You can keep your decorated, stained glass, death-by-chocolate, triple-dunked biscotti bombs, or whatever this holiday season's must-bake cookie will be.

When I hear the words “Holiday Spirit” I get a flood of great memories and an eagerness to continue traditions of giving. I can remember, when I was younger, the day after Thanksgiving we would start decorating for the upcoming Christmas holiday. I loved hanging the lights outside with my dad, drinking hot cocoa, watching holiday movies, trimming the tree with family and friends, shopping for that perfect present to bestow on someone.

There is no subtle way to say this. This cake screams Christmas.

Alumni of Mesa’s Mountain View High School will run, jog and join together again this year for its ninth annual "Nog-a-Thon," a race to raise awareness and funds for Feed My Starving Children. The nonprofit organization, which has a packing site in Tempe, brings volunteers together each week to pack millions of meals for starving and malnourished children around the world.

The holiday season is upon us. Over the next few weeks, schedules will be filled with shopping, holiday parties, relatives, plenty of food and spirits and obligations. Socializing during the holidays can be stressful and challenging for some people, especially if your friends and family are not as health-conscious as you. The abundance of holiday treats and homemade goodies can be hard to resist. Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do to avoid holiday weight gain.

Carrots are more versatile than you think.

One of the most pleasant surprises of the last couple of weeks is the cool evenings and even some cold and rainy nights. If you are fortunate enough to have a fireplace, they are the kind of evenings you can curl up with a warm drink, a favorite movie in the company of good friends.

One of the most pleasant surprises of the last couple of weeks is the cool evenings and even some cold and rainy nights. If you are fortunate enough to have a fireplace, they are the kind of evenings you can curl up with a warm drink, a favorite movie in the company of good friends.

The holiday season is upon us. Schedules are filled with shopping, work deadlines, holiday parties, relatives, and obligations. Socializing during the holidays can be challenging, especially if your friends and family are not as health-conscious as you. Fortunately, there's plenty you can do to avoid holiday weight gain and stay healthy, happy and fit.

The holiday season is upon us. Schedules are filled with shopping, work deadlines, holiday parties, relatives, and obligations. Socializing during the holidays can be challenging, especially if your friends and family are not as health-conscious as you. Fortunately, there's plenty you can do to avoid holiday weight gain and stay healthy, happy and fit.

Sweet eggnog, spiced pumpkin and cool peppermint, signature flavors nearly impossible to find other times of the year, offer season's greetings with starring roles in IHOP's Holiday Hotcakes.

The holiday season is upon us. Your schedule is filled with shopping, work deadlines, holiday parties, relatives and obligations. Fortunately, there's plenty you can do to avoid holiday weight gain and stay healthy, happy and fit.

The holiday season is upon us. Your schedule is filled with shopping, work deadlines, holiday parties, relatives and obligations. Fortunately, there's plenty you can do to avoid holiday weight gain and stay healthy, happy and fit.

The holiday season is upon us. Your schedule is filled with shopping, work deadlines, holiday parties, relatives and obligations. Fortunately, there's plenty you can do to avoid holiday weight gain and stay healthy, happy and fit.

Another in a series of five "whatevers" keyed to a new movie. This week, critic Christy Lemire plays off Friday's release of 'The A-Team' with a list of five more TV shows that should be turned into movies.

 Hey, did you hear? Santa Claus is laying off Rudolph after the big night. Like other employers, Claus has to, ah, rein in costs. He can’t afford to keep and feed nine reindeer, even if they are tiny, for another whole year.

As far as holiday traditions go, one employment practice is nearly as familiar as swigging eggnog or lighting a menorah: Retailers always need to hire seasonal workers to satisfy swelling crowds of customers.

Movie critic Craig Outhier's irreverent guide to the best and worst of what's now playing in theaters.

NEW YORK - The permanently suit-clad Stephen Colbert has traded in his pinstripes for a cardigan sweater, red turtleneck and furry boots.

DUSTY THE EGGNOG

“Let’s all send a “Merry Christmas” card to the ACLU.”

Kathy Kleinschmidt of Mesa tried her first Gingerbread Latte this year and says just one was enough to hook her. “It’s not something I craved before, but I might now,” she says. The drink is one of three on the menu at Starbucks, served in festive red cups and created to bring holiday flavors.